Flaring tool



April 1965 w. J. FRANCUS 3,176,492

FLARING TOOL Filed Aug. 23, 1961 millilillll lll l lllg lzgllld- 4 INVENTOR 5 "MM I FEM cu S ATTO R N EY United States Patent 3,176,492 FLARENG T901.

William 5. Frances, Gili, Mass. (REEL, Turners Falls, Mass.) Filed Aug. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 133,406 1 Claim. (til. 7275) This invention relates to a hand tool for expanding and flaring the ends of pipe, tubing and the like to provide a flange on the end of the pipe or tubing and will be illustrated as it may be used to flare the end of an oil return tube in the head casting of an aircraft engine.

There are known to the prior art hand tools for flaring the ends of pipe, tubing and the like, my invention having as its object the provision of such a tool that may be quickly inserted in the end of the work piece and the correct pressure quickly applied to the entire area of the inner surface the work piece to produce the required flange. A more specific object of my invention is to provide a tool that may be held and operated by the use of one hand, leaving the other hand free at all times to hold the work piece.

In order that my invention may be completely understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein,

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the tool of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a section on the line II-H of PEG. 1 and FIG. 3 is a section of the head and associated parts of an aircraft engine showing an oil return tube flanged by the use of the tool of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown therein in FIGS. 1 and 2 the tool of my invention which comprises an elongated body shank having a pilot end 12, shoulder 14 and enlarged body portion 16. The body of the tool has a longitudinal axial bore 18 of uniform diameter extending from its upper end through the shank 10 and into the pilot 12, and inserted therein is a push rod 20 having an integral palm pressure head 22 and a conical shaped lower end 24, said push rod being of uniform diameter except for the neck 26. A threaded stop 28 is screwed into the enlarged body portion 16, the neck 26 being somewhat longer than the diameter of the end of stop 28 to permit axial movement of push rod 20, the end of stop 28 being positioned to engage the flange 30 at the upper end of neck 26 to limit the downward travel of push rod 20 and stop 28 being positioned to engage flange 32 at the lower end of neck 26 to limit the upward travel of push rod 20.

Pilot 12 has two transverse bores 34 extending from the outside thereof through to bore 18, in each of said bores 34 being a metal ball 36 of slightly smaller diamter than bores 34, the pilot 12 having staking or swedging at 38 to reduce the diameter of bores 34 at their outer ends to prevent balls 36 from falling out of pilot 12.

Balls 36 are of such a diameter that When engaged by cone 24 they are forced outwardly so that a portion of the balls protrude beyond the surface of pilot 12.

A pair of finger rods 44) are attached to enlarged body portion 16. In the use of my invention the pilot 12 is inserted in the end of tube 42 which in the illustrated case of an aircraft engine head oil return tube is made of aluminum, the end of tube 42 sometimes projecting a short distance beyond the face 44 of head casting 46.

'Stop 14 engages the outer end of tube 42 to limit the 'ice hand are slipped under each of the finger rods 40 and the palm of the hand is placed against palm pressure head 22, and by hand pressure the push rod 20 is forced inwardly of body shank 10. Cone 24 forces balls 36 outwardly against the interior surface of the end of tube 42, causing the end 4211 thereof to flare outwardly against the casting 46. By rotating the tool of my invention through degrees and by moving the tool axially of tube 42, the entire surface of the end of tube will be engaged by balls 36 so that auniform flange on the end 42a of tube 42 may be produced. The other hand of the worker is left completely free to hold the work piece.

1 have found that with the use of my invention the end of oilreturn tube 42 may be flanged against head 46 so that oil passing through the tube 42 will not leak around the tube. By the use of my invention the end of the tube 42 may be snugly flared against the head 46.

The tool of my invention has the advantage that it may be quickly inserted in the end of the pipe or tubing to the correct depth, and without delay the flanging process may be commenced, one hand of the worker being left entirely free to hold the work piece, if necessary. By rotating and reciprocating the tool, the entire surface of the Work piece can be flanged to the desired extent.

Because the pressure being applied by the balls 36 to the inside of the tube is being applied by hand of the worker, the worker can feel the amount of pressure being applied and readily adjust the same by relaxing or contracting the muscles of his hand. This is particularly important in the case where the pipe or tubing 42 is of thin gauge and too much pressure by the balls 36 would rupture the tube.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the embodiment of my invention without departing from the substance thereof as covered by the following claim.

I claim:

A flaring tool comprising, in combination, an elongated body having an axial bore and at least one transverse bore communicating with said axial bore adjacent each end of said body, a metal ball in one of said transverse bores, a push rod slidably mounted in said axial bore and having an end projecting therefrom and terminating in a palm pressure head, said push rod having spaced shoulders adjacent the other of said transverse bores and terminating at its other end in a tapered portion engageable with said ball to force it outwardly in said one transverse bore upon movement of said palm pressure head toward said body, a finger rod rigidly fixed to said body to enable a hand to effect such movement, and a stop mounted in the other of said transverse bores and projecting between said rod shoulders to limit sliding movement of said push rod in either direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNTTED STATES PATENTS 1,677,473 7/28 Gast 81177.5 1,841,879 1/32 Croxford 153-81 2,070,504 2/37 Bannerman 15382 2,190,386 2/40 Scholtes 153--82 2,657,733 11/53 Champion 153-82 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

WHITMORE A. WILTZ, NEDWIN BERGER,

Examiners. 

